Empowering Youth to Meet Goals
The Youth Homes Therapeutic Behavioral Service program is an intensive family-based program that focuses on emphasizing the family’s strengths and abilities while building skills to help reduce negative behaviors. Kevin, one of the behavioral specialists, works closely with youth to ensure his clients meet their goals.
At Youth Homes, we are fiercely committed to creating opportunities for youth to process and heal from trauma, develop self-sufficiency and confidence, build supportive networks, and create healthy, safe, and meaningful lives. Our Therapeutic Behavioral Service (TBS) program is an intensive family-based program that focuses on emphasizing the family’s strengths and abilities while building skills to help reduce negative behaviors. We work with all members of a client’s family, along with the primary care specialist—taking a collaborative approach to healing.
Kevin, one of the behavioral specialists, works closely with youth to ensure his clients meet their goals. This includes treatment plans that are tailored to each youth and family and take into consideration the family’s unique circumstances, needs, values, and vision for change. These always include measurable goals, individual strengths, support systems, and the desired behaviors.
Out of many, a client Kevin has worked with has made amazing progress to reach their goals! ‘DJ’ has succeeded in their treatment plan and has set limits and achievable goals for a positive outcome. Accomplishments can be small and big, such as going to school at least three days per week, with assistance from Kevin in his morning routine. Alicia Richardson, Clinical Director of TBS Services shares that ‘DJ’ is being “raised by a single mother and has a team of female service providers supporting them, but to have a service provider as a healthy and supportive male role model has been effective in helping this youth open up, build rapport, and work towards goals.”
Our partners at First Hope (Contra Costa Health Services) shared, “Great job Youth Homes! Make sure you let Kevin know his work with ‘DJ’ is very much appreciated. First Hope had initially reached out for consult for help and they've seen great progress since TBS has been involved.”
At Youth Homes, we continue to go above and beyond to find the right fit for our client. Our specialists consistently “collaborate and partner with the county to support the family’s specific needs when possible,” Richardson says. By using all our resources, we develop tools that allow our clients to feel as comfortable with us as possible, creating sustainable, positive change. Keeping in touch with their therapist from First Hope and their mom, support from school and Kevin, has provided the opportunity for his youth to succeed.
Throughout the pandemic, our TBS program has helped youth in Contra Costa county see positive change within a few months. Along with Kevin, we have many other specialists helping our community’s most vulnerable youth, working with them in all kinds of different environments. Whether this is at home, school, or over zoom the past two years, our team promises change that goes beyond the length of the program!
Richardson shares her enthusiasm for Kevin: “We always love hearing feedback regarding one of our TBS Specialists and the amazing work that is being done in the home with the youth and family.”